Participating in the first meeting of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee (JC) on fisheries at New Delhi on Friday, Tamil Nadu, among other issues, reiterated its demand for immediate release of 62 fishing boats of its fishermen under Lankan custody for a long time.

The joint statement issued by Indian and Sri Lankan authorities after two and half hour talks said both sides have agreed to continue the discussions at Colombo at a date to be fixed after mutual consultation. Further, the JC has resolved to explore avenues for bilateral cooperation in fisheries.

Both the sides agreed to examine joint opportunities between respective scientific institutes in research, development and capacity building. While maintaining that there are currently no bonafide fishermen in each other’s custody at present, the two sides also discussed opportunities for joint venture mechanism in fisheries.

S Vijayakumar, TN Fisheries Secretary, reiterated the State government’s firm commitment to the restoration of traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the Palk Bay and the retrieval of Katchatheevu which had been an integral part of India since time immemorial.

The Government of India should not treat the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Sri Lanka as settled since the constitutional validity of the 1974 and 1976 agreements have been challenged on extremely valid and legal grounds by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the Supreme Court of India, he argued.

At present, five innocent Tamil Nadu fishermen are languishing in Sri Lankan jails on narcotic cases foisted on them in 2011, Dr Vijayakumar said and sought their immediate release along with their boat.

The Indian delegation was led by Dr Raja Sekar Vundru, Joint Secretary, Fisheries, GoI, and the delegation from the island nation was led by Nimal Hettiarachchi, Director general, Dept of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources. (The New Indian Express)